PWC132: For the Boys!

I'm sorry to say, this is my last official post as a Prettie Girl! I've had so much fun with this group of ladies over the last 3 years, I've made some wonderful friendships that I know will continue for years to come! And boy, do I have an amazing collection of almost EVERY Sophia and Cooper stamp ever made!! :-D

This week's Prettie Weekly Challenge is to create a more masculine card. Of course that meant I had to use Cooper, and I love this new Sledding Cooper heading down the hill. Makes me think of when I was little growing up in Maine and going Tobogganing with my dad and siblings! I also used this week's Mojo Monday sketch #169 for my layout.

I added some snowflakes cut with the Let it Snowflake Die-Namic from My Favorite Things (LOVE their dies!!) with an SU! button on top (tied with some fun tinsel string!) Now to play along with us, just create your OWN masculine or boy card and link it up on the Paper Pretties blog. YOU could win a fabulous stamp set. And while you don't have to use Paper Pretties' stamps to play, you'll get an extra entry into the random drawing if you do...so pull out those Coopers and get to work!

And now, I'll leave you today with the VERY FIRST card I made using the Paper Pretties stamps with one of the first 2 Sophias ever released. I STILL love this Snowflake Kisses set. I hope you enjoy!

New Pretties are HERE!!!

Hooray, it's release day at last, and we're hip hopping around the blogosphere with lots of eye candy for you today! The party started back on the Paper Pretties blog, so if you didn't get here from Jackie's fabulous creation, head on back to the beginning!!

I got to use Love Birds again for this release...and I was so excited!! These little birds are just adorable. I decided to make an anniversary card for my parents (it isn't until February, so I'm really on top of things!) I really wanted to use my Heart nestabilities since I got them so late in the season last year I didn't get to use them much, so I made a heart shaped window to see the cute couple that was stamped on the inside. Isn't this card also just perfect for the Moxie Fab love cards challenge? I certainly think so!! You should go check it out!!

I used some Basic Grey Bittersweet paper for my card, and let that guide my color choices. I added some little heart swirly shapes from another Spellbinder's Die set to go along with my sentiment on the front. And I added some fun pink and brown polka dot organdy ribbon to finish off the front.

I kept the inside fairly simply, just the lovebirds themselves along with the Happy Anniversary greeting. Now keep on hopping to Jennifer's blog to see what amazing thing she has come up with, and then after you finish the hop, be sure to go shop Prettie!

PWC131: Punch it up!

This week's Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge is to use punches when creating your project. Since I use punches pretty frequently this was an easy one for me!

And, to make it ever more fun, we're all peeking another new set - Love Birds! Aren't they adorable?? Now you may be wondering about my coloring here...but I love Ecclectus Parrots. They are beautiful large parrots from Down Under, where the mail is a beautiful emerald green, and the female is red and dark blue/purple. Unfortunately, I got mixed up and made her head purple when it should have been her chest that was purple. Below I've included a photo of some actual birds. Guess I should have looked up the photos BEFORE I colored!

Back to my card...I used some Basic Grey papers, and an SU! border punch. I distressed all my edges, then added some glimmer drops from MFT, and this cute wire heart (no idea where it's from!) with a little ribbon.

Be sure to check out all of the creations using this adorable stamp set on the Paper Pretties blog today (and on all the Prettie Girls' blogs!) and don't forget our new release hop will be happening on Friday! You won't want to miss that!!

First day of Prettie Peeks!!

Today is the first day of Prettie Peeks for our December release. We have 7 fabulous new sets for you this month, available for purchase NEXT Friday the 10th, and today we are peeking Elegant Sentiments. This versatile set comes with 5 sentiments and 3 fabulous frames to put them in. And with our clear stamps, it's super easy to line it up perfectly!! Be sure to head to the Paper Pretties blog to see all of today's peeks (I believe my good friend Jane has something delightful for you today as well!) and to see all the peeks for the next week!

For my card I decided to use that great new stacked scallops design that has become so popular along with my favorite color Cherry Cobbler. It's a very simple card, but perfect for so many different occasions. I have a hard time making sympathy cards, but this could work perfect for that. And isn't this perfect for the Moxie Fab World Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week All Occasion Challenge? I certainly think so. You could play along too!!

PWC130: Its sketch time!

I love the first Wednesday of the month - it always means another awesome Frances sketch!!! And this month's sketch is FABULOUS!!!

I didn't want to color an image for this one (no sleep = unsteady hands!) so I used the fabulous new O Christmas Tree set and some fabulous dp I picked up at a LSS. I added some bling to the wonderful snowflakes that come with the set, and some silver brads to the side (is it just me or do they look crooked? I used my totally cool new Tim Holtz ruler sot hey should be perfectly straight. Think I need more than 4 hours of sleep a night!!)

We'd love to have you play along too. Visit the Paper Pretties blog to get more details on how to enter, and get busy stampin'!!

Monday Whatnots from Paper Pretties...What's not to love?!

Good morning everyone, have we all recovered from our eating (and spending) splurges?? Not sure I have yet, but I'm getting there!

Here's a quick card I made with one of this week's Monday Whatnot digi images from Paper Pretties and ARTish. I really loved this cute little Poodle with her cupcake, and thought I could make a quick birthday card for one of Jackson's "girlfriends" (yes, he has 2 already - one younger and one older!) She's turning 3 soon, and so will no longer be in Jackson's early intervention program. Just means we have to schedule playdates now so they don't loose touch!

I colored Poodilicious Party in with my copics, and then added some sparkle to the sprinkles with some stickles. I used some paper that was sitting out on my desk from an old SU! Simply Scrappin' Kit, along with some Bazzill ribbon and glimmer pebbles from MFT.

Be sure to go check out both of this week's digital releases, and if you haven't seen all the others, check them out too! I'll be back later today with another post...today is my BLOGAVERSARY, and I've got some great treats for YOU!

PWC129 Keep it clean, and simple!

This week's Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge was to make a Clean and Simple card - right up my ally!! I used this adorable Sledding Cooper to create my card.

I used some fun SU! snow dsp for my card, then just added ribbon and the little snowflake to perk it up. I cut Cooper out with a long rectangle nestie. I added the sentiment on as a little flag.

We'd love for you to play along with us. Please head on over to the Paper Pretties blog to see all this week's creations, and to link up your entry for our clean and simple challenge this week! You don't have to use Paper Pretties stamps to win, but you will get an extra entry into the random drawing if you do!! You could win a great stamp set...so play along!!

Plus this week we are having a Thanksgiving Day Sale! Just use the coupon code GIVETHANKS and receive 15% OFF your entire purchase!

Happy Birthday ARTish!

Today the Prettie Girls are hopping with joy to celebrate our newest artist, ARTish's birthday! She's our new digi-stamp designer that makes these adorable images I've been showing you lately on Mondays! So this week, we've got a special release for digi stamps on SUNDAY to celebrate her birthday!! If you didn't arrive here from Jackie's blog, head on back to Cindy's blog to start at the beginning!

I've made a card with this adorable new birthday image, Birthday Balloons for You. Isn't this kitty with his big balloon bouquet adorable?? I decided to paper piece the balloons with paper from my basic grey bittersweet pack. (the same paper I used on the rest of the card!)

I colored in the kitty's nose and added some sharing with my copics, then added some wide grosgrain ribbon and a sentiment from the Celebrate Sophia set to finish off the card.

Now keep on hoppin' to the super talented Jessica's blog to see what she's got for us today, and don't forget to stop by ARTish's blog at the end to leave her some birthday love!!

PWC128: Thanks!

I'm back again with a Pretties Weekly Challenge for you all...make a Thank You card! Super simple, right? We ALL need thank you cards, and unfortunately I don't give them out nearly enough! So, here's a card I made for Julia's teacher using Thank You Teacher Sophia.

For my layout, I used this week's Sketch for you to Try from Jen Del Muro. I loved having all these panels to use different patterend papers! I used my Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper, and pieced Sophia's top, pants and lunch bag. I of course had already stamped her twice onto my Perfect Panel cs so that I could add the backpack straps, apple and her hair on top of the pieced shirt! Everything was colored with copcis, I even added some shading to the pieced pieces with my W1 and 3 markers.

As has become my general habit, I finished off the inside too. I used some of this great May Arts Olive Green rikrak from the Prettie Boutique on both the inside and the front - doesn't it match perfectly? I also used some more of the patterned paper, and a sentiment from a new MFT set, Simply Sentimental about Teachers.

We'd love to have you play along with us Prettie Girls, so upload your thank you card to the Paper Pretties blog for your chance to win some great stamps! You don't have to use Prettie stamps, but if you do you'll get an extra entry into the drawing...good luck!

Totally Awesome Paper Pretties release hop!

It's time for a super fun, totally radical Paper Pretties new release blog hop. We've got a few guest designers this month - you should have arrived here from the amazing Shemaine Smith - and therefore tons of great samples for you today! Head on back to the Paper Pretties blog if you didn't start there so you don't miss any of these amazing projects today (plus you can check to see if you won any of the sets before going to place your order!!)!!

I get to share with you a card I made using the new Skater Zak! Isn't he fabulous?? I love this new teen scene line Heather started, perfect for those older kids who don't like to think of themselves as kids so much anymore! Zak here looks totally absorbed with his board, and I just know my little friend Nico is going to LOVE this one! I'll save it all the way until June for his birthday! I used Taylor's Friday sketch #133 from LAST week, because it was such a great layout, and the colors came from the Color Throwdown #117.

I used some notebook paper from my SU! Newsprint DSP, and punched it with the spiral notebook punch. On my crumb cake layer, I stamped the word COOL from among the great sentiments in this set in the same color ink all over the paper to make my own dp. Zak was of course colored with copics, and then I sponged all around with some creamy caramel ink. Lastly, I made the little brads up the side with black brads, and some circle punches of coordinating cardstock.

I finished off the inside with the Happy Birthday sentiment stamped on some more notebook paper and punched with the spiral notebook punch. A quick and simple inside, but it adds so much to finish it off!!

Now keep on hoppin' to Carolyn King (The Camster's) blog next to see what magic she's performed with the adorable new Get Well Fairy Violet.

PWC127 and Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Today is not only a Prettie Peek day, not only a Prettie Wednesday Challenge Day, but most importantly, it is Prettie Girl Jennifer's birthday!!! We're all hopping along this week with some Birthday Wishes for Jennifer, and hope you'll join us! The hop started at the Paper Pretties Blog, so if you didn't arrive here from Jackie, be sure to head on back!

This week's challenge was to emboss on a card. It wasn't specific as to dry or wet embossing, so I went for both! The stamp set is this fabulous new Everyday Greetings, which will be released along with 7 other sets this Friday. I used 2 stamps from the set...first the circle with flowers in it (stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink on a very vanilla circle) and the sentiment is also from the set. There are 9 fabulous and versatile sentiments included with this set - so plenty to meet your every day greeting needs!

I did the faux diamonds technique on my stamped vanilla circle and embossed it with Irridescent Ice embossing powder. I love this look on vanilla, it gets such a sparkly golden look! I dry embossed the black square underneath, and for my papers I used the SU! Love Letter dsp. And, the layout is this week's Mojo Monday sketch #164.

Now be sure to keep on hopping to see what Jane has come up with for Jennifer's birthday, and please leave Jennifer some birthday love at the end of the hop! have a great day...and don't forget to leave  a comment on the Paper Pretties blog for your chance to win this set!

Paper Pretties is sponsoring CPS

So, not only do I have a sneak peek for you today of an ADORABLE new Sophia, but it's also using the latest CPS192 sketch. And because Paper Pretties is sponsoring the sketch this week, you'll have the opportunity to win some Paper Pretties stamps if you play along too!! To see ALL of today's adorable cards, be sure to visit the Paper Pretties blog...there are some great ones!

Thanks Snow Much Sophia is another of my favorites (and I have to admit I have several!!) She just looks so joyful playing in the snow! For this card, I stamped her on kraft cardstock and colored her with my copics. I thought it would give the card a more vintage feel to use the kraft. I also sponged some white ink around the edges of the kraft to add to the snowy feel of the card, as well as adding some liquid applique.

I took a few liberties with the sketch, and instead of adding rings to the side, I added snowflakes! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend...and be sure to keep checking the Paper Pretties blog all week for more sneak peeks, with the release coming on Friday! WOOHOO!

Prettie Peek Surprise!

Happy Friday everyone! Today we've got a great sneak peek of a new set coming out in one week! There are 8 fabulous new sets coming out this month, and this is the first peek. Surprise Sophia is our latest Sophia sweetheart all ready to head to a birthday party.

For my layout I used this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge from Karen Giron. I loved this layout, perfect for this little sweetie!

I pulled out my Nana's Kids paper to use with her, and stamped her twice on white and once on the polka dot paper. I colored in Sophia with my copics. After piecing her dress, I also colored and cut out her arms and present to put on top of the dress.

I finished off the inside with another of the sentiments included in this fabulous set, and another strip of the dp from the front. Be sure to head over to the Paper Pretties blog to see all the samples using Surprise Sophia. And keep checking the blog all week long for more peeks!

PWC126: another AWESOME sketch!

Frances has done it again - come up with an amazing sketch challenge for us this week, and I LOVE it!! I have to be honest...I made this card in less than 30 minutes, and I LOVE when I can do that! Because I didn't have an image to color, it was all picking papers, cutting, and lots of sponging!!

I used more of my Basic Grey Fruitcake paper (can you believe I bought that in the Netherlands and never opened it until I was back here in California and could have gotten it for half the price?? Figures!) along with some Cherry Cobbler, Sage Shadow, and Very Vanilla. I stamped the greeting from O Christmas Tree and after sponging on some Cherry Cobbler ink, I added teh snowflakes. Each is centered with a rhinestone for some extra sparkle. I added the Cherry Cobbler seam binding to finish off the card, and am quite happy with the end result!

Be sure to head on over to the Paper Pretties blog to see all the great creations today, and to link up your OWN entry for this week's challenge - you could win a Paper Pretties stamp set. You don't have to use a Prettie stamp to play (although we love it when you do!) just have fun with the great sketch!

Paper Pretties Monday Whatnots

Ok...I'm very late today, but I have a reason. Yesterday, I made a card with this adorable new Rudolph digital stamp. And while I LOVE the image, I HATED the card. I colored it first, then went searching for some dp to go with it. That just doesn't work for me! I need to pick out my dp, THEN color my image to match. So...I've added the rejected card to the bottom for a comparison!

 I used last week's Mercy Tuesday sketch challenge for my layout, and some old retired SU! dsp. After picking out the dsp, I colored my image and cut it out with one of my label nesties.

I added some red satin ribbon and a red card base, and I was set! I'm MUCH happier with how this one turned out...and I hope you all are too! (see...just look at that card...horrible isn't it??)

Now head on over to the Paper Pretties website to get YOUR Rudolph image, and don't forget to pick up Astra the Christmas fairy!

PWC125: Gotta be Square!

It's that time again...for our weekly Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge! This week, we're challenging you all to make it square! A square card. This was an easy one for me...since more than half my cards these days are square. but, since I knew it was the last Monday of the month, I figured I'd wait to do my card for this weeks Mojo Monday Circle or square sketch...and I'm glad I did!

I used our adorable new Tis the Season Sophia from our October stamp release - isn't she just darling just peeking through all those packages?? LOVE it!! I colored her with copics and cut her out with Nesties. Then, I pulled out my beloved Eskimos Kisses paper and got to work with the sketch! I don't usually mix this many patterns...but I think it works!

I added some liquid applique to her boots and the cuffs of her coat to give her a little added dimension, and slipped some clear tinsel from SU! behind her. Cute, no??

Of course, I finished the inside too. Now, head on over to the paper pretties blog to see all of this week's square creations from our amazing DT, and be sure to link up your OWN square cards to WIN a FREE Paper Pretties stamp set. Also while you're there...check out our new Digi Design team call - I mean, who can't use more stamps?!?

Monday Whatnots...

Happy Monday everyone! I'm back this morning with a Monday Whatnot from Paper Pretties and ARTish - our newest line of images that's all digital! And what's not to love about these adorable new images? For today's card I used an image that was released last Monday, Baloo.  I totally fell in love with this image the first time I saw it since I have been stringing popcorn and cranberries for my Christmas tree since I was about 12!

So sweet and easy to work with, Baloo can be printed at any size you want...for a nice big image like I've got, or you can print it out much smaller to fit a little notecard. For my card I wanted a nice big, eye-catching image. I colored it with my copics, ten cut it out with my circle nestabilities.For the layout, I used this weekend's Sketch for You to Try by Jen del Muro - with just a few minor tweeks and my Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper.

I finished off the card with some bling, and I used some plain, clear rhinestones that I colored with my copic marker to match the cranberries - perfect huh?? Be sure to go check out the two adorable new images available today from ARTish and Paper Pretties over at the Paper Pretties blog, and have a wonderful Monday!

Have a very Prettie Birthday, Heather!

Today we are celebrating Heather's birthday, Prettie style! We're hopping along with our birthday wishes to our fearless leader! If you didn't get here from Jackie's, then head on back to Cindy's blog so you see all the wonderful Birthday Wishes from the DT.

I used the adorable Dog-Gone Birthday for Heather's card, and paired  him with some Basic Grey Nook and Pantry paper. Isn't it sweet?? I love all those cupcakes on there!!

 I colored this little doggie with my copics (lots of E's) and then cut him out with my deckle edge oval nestie. I added a nice big boy wtih some red gingham ribbon.

I also finished off the inside with some more paper and one of the sweet sentiments from this fabulous set (along with the little doggy paw prints!) I hope this has arrived at Heather's today, and that she's enjoying it! Now keep on hopping to Jane's blog to see what gorgeous creation she has for Heather today! And don't forget to leave some birthday love for Heather at the end of the hop!

PWC124: Green, Orange and Purple??

Well, when I saw the color challenge for today's Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge I thought "Oh my!" But then I realized that they are perfect halloween colors!

I figured the  Wicked Old Bird set would be perfect, and got busy coloring her in. I then used this week's Mercy sketch for the layout, and my Matilda mini deck of papers from Cosmo Cricket for the various layers.

I punched out the greeting with my spellbinders tag die, and also finished off the inside. Now it's all set to send off to a friend with a good sense of humor!

We'd love to have you play along with us...for all the info on how to play (and to upload your card) head on over to the Paper Pretties blog...YOU could win a free Paper Pretties stamp set for your very own!!

PWC123: Black, White and...you choose!

This week's Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge is a color challenge, to use white, black and a 3rd color of your choice. I decided to once again go for a black and white colored image for this challenge...and I LOVE the result! Caroling Cooper (isn't he adorable?? You can get him for your very own on Friday!) looks fabulous in this retro black and white look.

I used the fun Newsprint dsp from SU! because I knew I wanted to use the music staff paper. Perfect with this little guy, isn't it? And with that nice touch of red...he's all ready for the holidays! And don't you love those glimmer brads??

Be sure to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog to see ALL the amazing work of the DT this week, and don't forget we'll have 8 new stamps for you on Friday!